Shadowbane: Eye of Justice

Rumors are swirling around the dark corners of Westgate that a brutal vigilante is dealing violence and havoc in the guise of Shadowbane. Kalen and Myrin have just arrived from Luskan, in search of Kalen's former apprentice, Rhett. Though Kalen believes Rhett to be dead, Myrin won't give up hope as she in turn seeks more information about her past. And Kalen too must find his place, perhaps in the Eye of Justice - the organization that trained him - though that's the last place he wants to end up. But who are is this mysterious vigilante who wields the vaunted sword Vindicator?

A young group of friends stumble across a terrifying conspiracy that holds the heir to the Blackstaff, the defender of the city of Waterdeep, in terrible danger. These friends must search deep within themselves to become the heroes their city needs to save its champion from those who would see both brought low. Ed Greenwood, beloved author and creator of the Forgotten Realms, presents the first book in a brand-new series dedicated to showcasing both the City of Splendors and our most talented up-and-coming authors.

Homeland: Legend of Drizzt: Dark Elf Trilogy, Book 1

This stunning new release of the classic R.A. Salvatore novel recounts the origins of Salvatore's signature dark elf character, Drizzt Do'Urden. This title kicks off The Legend of Drizzt series, which will showcase the classic dark elf novels in these new audiobook editions.

Thieves of Blood: Eberron: Blade of the Flame, Book 1

Diran used to make his living as an assassin - one of the best money could buy. But after a life-altering spiritual experience, he's turned his back on killing. All he wants is peace. But in a shoddy port city, his past catches up to him, and killing may be the only way to bring peace to a city on the verge of destruction.

Sword of the Gods: Forgotten Realms: The Abyssal Plague, Book 1

mascus awakens surrounded by corpses, at a shrine littered with traces of demonic rituals, with no memory of his past. But the Firestorm Cabal remembers him - and the demon who leads them seems to have a personal vendetta against him. Dodging knives, uncovering clues left by his past life, and dueling demons, Demascus must figure out who he is, what battles he is fighting, and who is hunting him before one of them catches up with him.

Brimstone Angels: A Forgotten Realms Novel

Rejected at birth and raised in a village of tiefling misfits, Farideh expects a life without friends, love, or control over her destiny. Then she makes a pact with a devil named Lorcan, and everything changes. Lorcan promises all she ever dreamed of and asks for nothing in return. Her twin sister Havilar urges Farideh to resist the devil’s sway. But Farideh’s not so sure. Lorcan may be dangerous but the power he offers is exhilarating.

The Way of Kings: Book One of The Stormlight Archive

Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter. It has been centuries since the fall of the ten consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armor.

Dissolution: Forgotten Realms: War of the Spider Queen, Book 1

The War of the Spider Queen begins here. While their whole world is changing around them, four dark elves struggle against different enemies. Yet their paths will lead them all to the most terrifying discovery in the long history of the drow and set them on a quest to save not only Menzoberranzan but the entire dark elf race from Dissolution....

The Demon Awakens: Book I of the DemonWars Saga

A great evil has awakened in the land of Corona, a terrible demon determined to spread death and misery. His goblin armies and fearsome giants ravage the settlements of the frontier, and in the small village of Dundallis their merciless attack leaves behind two shattered orphans: Pony and her lifelong friend, the youth Elbryan. Taken in by elves, Elbryan is raised to become a formidable ranger - a fateful role that will lead him into harrowing confrontation.

The Captive Flame: Forgotten Realms: Brotherhood of the Griffon, Book 1

Take flight with the Brotherhood of the Griffin - Richard Lee Byers’s most celebrated characters. The Captive Flame features the return of popular character Aoth and his mercenary band, the Brotherhood of the Griffin, introduced in Richard Lee Byers' trilogy The Haunted Lands. Byers's signature twisted plots make this a must-have for all true Forgotten Realms fans. Aoth and his band of mercenaries, the Brotherhood of the Griffin, are hired to put a stop to a disturbing series of ritualistic killings.

Forsaken House: Forgotten Realms: The Last Mythal, Book 1

Half-demon, half-elf monsters infest the glades of the High Forest, the mountains around Evereska, and the very halls of Evermeet itself. They claim a birthright that was taken from them so long ago even the elves who imprisoned them forgot they existed. For millennia the daemonfey army planned, grew, and waited. Until now... House Dlardrageth is an ancient cabal of demon-spawned sun elves who burn for vengeance against the elven realms that defeated them long ago.

Depths of Madness: Forgotten Realms: The Dungeons, Book 1

The last thing she remembers is seeing her friends die... Now it's her turn. Eldritch and forgotten arcana wait within its vaults. Twisted accidents of magic prowl its halls. Sinister forces lure the unsuspecting deeper into death or madness. Its victims don't remember how they got there. No one remembers how to get out...

Unbroken Chain: A Forgotten Realms Novel, Book 1

The witch Ilvani's nightmares of a storm and a suffering soul are luring shadow creatures into Ikemmu, bent on hunting her down and killing her for reasons no one can ascertain. Ashok, however, is determined to find a way to stop it before the shadow creatures destroy the city he worked so hard to save. The trail leads him, the witch Ilvani, Cree, and Skagi along a caravan to Rashemen, where similarly strange attacks are happening among the secretive masked witches of the steppes.

Theft of Swords: Riyria Revelations, Volume 1

Acclaimed author Michael J. Sullivan created instant best sellers with his spellbinding Riyria Revelations series. This first volume introduces Royce Melborn and Hadrian Blackwater, two enterprising thieves who end up running for their lives when they’re framed for the death of the king. Trapped in a conspiracy bigger than they can imagine, their only hope is unraveling an ancient mystery - before it’s too late.

The Companions: Forgotten Realms: The Sundering, Book 1

This latest installment in New York Times best-selling author R.A. Salvatore's beloved fantasy saga, The Companions moves Salvatore's signature hero Drizzt into a new era of the Forgotten Realms. As Drizzt's fate hangs in the balance, he reflects on the lives of the trusted allies who stood by his side throughout his early life - the friends now known as the Companions of the Hall. Meanwhile, the first stirrings of the Sundering begin.

Plague of Spells: Forgotten Realms: Abolethic Sovereignty, Book 1

Blue fire sears the face of Faern, leaving the twisted and mutilated dead in its wake. But a rare few escape death - and suffer some mystical mutation. Raidon Kane is one of those who survives, the wake of blue fire burning the sigil of the amulet he wears into his chest and binding him with all the power and responsibility it entails. With everyone he knows and cares about dead, Raidon must find within himself the strength to lead the fight against the rise of an elder evil the likes of which would be the end of mortal kind.

The City of Ravens: Forgotten Realms: The Cities, Book 1

Ravens Bluff: The city of ravens... For the first time, Jack Ravenwild's designs exceed his talents. His ambitions plunge him into the middle of a plot to destroy the city, a noble quest to find a lost hoard, and a conspiracy to seize the reins of power through the nobility's Game of Masks. Worse yet, Jack must choose between a life of freedom and saving the city he doesn't even know he loves. The Cities: A new series of stand-alone novels, each set in one of the mighty cities of Faern.

Elminster: The Making of a Mage: Forgotten Realms: Elminster, Book 1

In ancient days, sorcerers sought to learn the One True Spell that would give them power over all the world and understanding of all magic.... The One True Spell was a woman, and her name was Mystra - and her kisses were wonderful. It is the time before Myth Drannor, when the Heartlands are home to barbarians, and wicked dragons rule the skies. In these ancient days, Elminster is but a shepherd boy, dreaming of adventure and heroics. When a dragon-riding magelord sweeps down upon him, though, the boy is thrust into a world of harsh realities, corrupt rulers, and evil sorcerers.

Publisher's Summary

The city of Luskan has always been a den of pirates, thieves, and murderers. But lately, things have gotten much worse. A ship crashes offshore with nothing but corpses. Every day, people go crazy and brutalize those around them. And the only signs that even the most hardened criminals still walk the streets at night are bones. Luskan's sister city, Waterdeep, has sent a detachment to quarantine the unclean city - to let the filth within die, rather than infect the rest of the Realms. But Myrin has slipped inside, declaring that she will save Luskan. Shadowbane follows, determined to save Myrin and therefore her pet city - even if he has to kill every rat in Luskan to do it.

Shadowbane features the triumphant return of the popular, dark vigilante from Downshadow and carries forth the threads of the worlds - spanning Abyssal Plague series. This expanded audiobook also includes a brand-new short story, entitled "A New Purpose".

There was a lot of great parts to this book. Great writing technique. Great character development. But, overall for some reason, the story just didn't do it for me. It seemed to drag a little here and there. The performance by the narrator was second to none.

For a novel that has so much going for it, this is disappointing. I have loved reading Forgotten Realms for years. The universe has a rich landscape and history, giving the author a lot to work with and includes stories by some of my favorite authors including R A Salvatore and Elaine Cunningham. However I have been constantly disappointed by the poor standard of narration ruining novels I loved, when I come to listen to the Audio books. So after finding that this was narrated by Rupert Degas (who did such a wonderful job on the King Killer Chronicles) and listening to the sample, which centered around an intriguing female character for a change, I immediately purchased the book.

Unfortunately, the only thing that did not let me down was Degas' performance and I hope he works on some of the other novels in this universe.The heroine whom I liked, is banished for hours at a time, being replaced by a hero who is wooden and I found myself completely unable to connect with. Most characters felt like less well written copies of characters I had read in other books. Truthfully I struggled to finish this and am unlikely to read the sequel or re-read this.

Shadowbane is most likely to be of interest to Forgotten Realms fans, who want to listen to something by a brilliant narrator, like their macho knight hero stories and want something new after having already read and enjoyed the better stories in this universe.

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